My 100th Rebirth a day before the Apocalypse novel Chapter 262

Even the Patriarch couldn’t resist offering his advice as an elder. "You rascal," he said with a stern yet caring tone, "make sure you don’t let your wife overexert herself. It’s your duty to protect her and the baby!"

Kisha felt as though she’d been struck by lightning upon hearing the Patriarch’s unexpected comment. Her head buzzed as she blinked in disbelief. Mrs. Winters quickly cleared her throat, stepping in to offer Kisha and her son an exit from the awkward situation, clearly taken aback by her father-in-law’s public declaration.

Kisha looked at Duke incredulously, wondering if he had somehow spread the news as soon as he came downstairs that morning. But she quickly dismissed the thought—Duke wasn’t the type to do that. Or at least, she used to think so. She started to question her understanding of him, feeling as if she were meeting a new side of Duke every time they interacted.

"I understand, Grandpa," Kisha heard Duke say before he gently pulled her out of the villa. Aston and the others followed suit, still somewhat dazed by the unexpected revelation. They felt a mix of embarrassment and awkwardness, realizing they had overheard something very private.

"I didn’t say anything to them," Duke said suddenly as they walked toward the military car parked in front of their villa. He was eager to clarify to Kisha that he hadn’t shared any details about their private matters, hoping she wouldn’t misinterpret his actions as bragging or anything of the sort.

Duke felt Kisha’s hand tense beneath his grip, so he tightened it gently as he helped her into her seat, his gaze filled with sincerity. He also wanted to remind her to take some pills to prevent pregnancy, knowing she would have a challenging time balancing her work at the base with any potential pregnancy.

He understood that this month would be particularly busy for them, and he didn’t want her to face additional difficulties.

However, Duke remembered seeing a box of pills in the sink earlier while he was washing up, so he decided to hold his tongue. Although he knew it was necessary, he couldn’t help but feel a twinge of disappointment. They weren’t yet prepared to welcome a child, a child with the first woman he had truly fallen for.

However, Duke consoled himself with the thought that they would have plenty of opportunities in the future. His focus now was on creating a safe and sustainable base for their future children, so they wouldn’t have to worry about their future. With this renewed purpose, he felt more energized and committed to strengthening the base and supporting his wife in every way he could.

When they arrived at the square, over fifty men, both seasoned soldiers and young recruits, stood in neat rows, eagerly awaiting the arrival of Duke, Kisha, and the new Minister of Defense.

Kisha glanced at the mission tab again, focusing on the requirement [Recruit 102/500 brave warriors]. Just seeing the number of soldiers and new recruits already gave her a headache. With the limited time they had, the task seemed overwhelming.

However, rushing into things would only lead to more mistakes in her frantic state. So, Kisha took a moment to calm herself. Once composed, she proceeded with the speech, offering encouraging words to both the soldiers and the new recruits. As the City Lord, it was crucial for her to deliver an impromptu address to inspire and motivate everyone.

She cleared her throat and took a deep breath, her gaze sweeping over the crowd gathered below the makeshift stage. The faces before her displayed a range of emotions—curiosity, questioning, disbelief—and many looked up at her with admiration.

"First, I want to extend my heartfelt thanks to each of you brave warriors for stepping up to defend what matters most, even in the face of danger. While I can’t promise you anything, I assure you that we will give our all to train you in the art of combat.